MMMM passed through Pskov

Leaders of youth public organizations of Europe visited our city

The history of international youth routes of the world has more than 50 years. The first of these took place shortly after the Second World War. The goal is to help the peoples of the warring countries to get closer after the end of the war, to attract young people to the struggle for peace. Today, peace routes are also aimed at overcoming the consequences of the Cold War.

The initiators of the project are the independent organization Pax Cristi Internetional and the interchurch educational organization Apostolic City. Neva perspective. The guide of the Route in Pskov was the coordinator of the Pskov regional public movement "Veche" Venedikt Dostovalov.

The meeting of leaders of youth public organizations of Europe and Russia, which took place on August 15, was already the second in Pskov. Just like the first one, it took place, which the participants emphasized, on the eve of the victory over the State Emergency Committee (they remember!).

The slogan of this year's Route is "Turning Hope into Reality". This refers to the hopes for the democratization of society in the former Soviet Union. The main theme of the Route is citizenship, a concept, as discussed at the round table, is still new for Russia. There was a separate motto for the Pskov meeting: “Pskov is a window in the history of Russia” (literally, it sounded like “window to the civilized world”, that is, a window to the civilized world!).

Young people from Austria, Germany, Belgium, USA, Great Britain, Portugal and Spain met at the round table in the youth library building. The Pskov side was represented by Sophia Belyakova from the city administration, Valentina Afanasyeva, chairman of the Council of Soldiers' Mothers, and Father Pavel, rector of the Church of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women. The participants discussed the eternal problems common to all peoples: ecology, the fight against drug addiction, the position of soldiers in the army, alcoholism.

Almost all the Europeans present admitted that they knew little about Russia. The most knowledgeable was Daila from Lithuania. She noted the similarities and differences between the two countries: “The names of the streets here have changed, like ours, but, unlike Lithuania, the consciousness of the people has remained the same.” She also expressed unpleasant surprise caused by the youth military-patriotic camps she saw near Novgorod.

Much attention was paid to religion at the meeting. Christianity, according to Andrei from St. Petersburg, should become the basis that can unite all the peoples of the world. Between Catholicism and Orthodoxy, said Simon from England, one must look not for differences, but for similarities.

The event went unnoticed by the general public.

Svetlana PROKOPIEVA.